Classification-lamp for locomotives.



Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

CLASSIFICATIN LAMP F08 LOCCI'VES;

APPUcA'rmN min mn.

INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY VVITNESSES this the classification lamp Roemer santini/r rLiNN, or

LA rn-Nava, ootoaano.

CLASSIFICATION-'LAMP FOR LOCQMTVES.

Specification maracas.,

of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 5, 1i915. Serial No. S91.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, Roemer G. linrxx, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Junta, in the county of Otero and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Classification-Lamp for Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to classification lamps for locomotives, and its object is to provide a lamp whereby either of two lights of dierent characteristics may be displayed by the lamp at the will of Van operator, and especially under control of the engineman in the cab of the locomotive.

Classification lamps are designed to give different signals at different times and the standard locomotive equipment calls for one white light in the classification lamp to be controlled by a single-thrown switch in the cab. In order to provide for the display of light of another' characteristic, green for instance, with the ordinary classification lamp, it is the custom to provide a green glass. Y

In accordance with the present invention each classificationlamp is provided with two electric lights, one having a white, that is, an unoolored bulb, and the other a green bulb, and the bulbs are so disposed within the lamp that each light is clearly visible without interference from the other bulb through both of the bulls-eyes of the classi! fication lamp, it being understood that such lamps have two. bulls-eyes in right-angular relation one to the other'. To accomplish is provided with two electric incandescent lamp bulbs, one of white or clear glass and the other of green glass, and these bulbs are spaced horizontally one from the other within the body of the lamp and are arranged in an upright plane bisecting the right angle junction of the axles of the two bulls-eyes of the lamp. In order that the bulbs may always have the proper' position within the lamp body and may be removed from and replaced in the lamp at will, there is provided a positioning and holding means in addition to the usual spring catches by which the bowl or bottom portions of the .lamp is held in place.

Such an arrangement of classification lamps demands some changes in the wiring installation of the locomotive so that either bullaiin. a classification lamp may be lighted,

of thisspecification, with the further but both cannot be lighted at one time, thereby eliminating the possibility of confusion of signals.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection With the accompanying drawings forming a part unden standing that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity Awith the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as lsuoli changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention'.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagram of the locomotive lighting circuits. Fig. 2 is aplan view of classification lamp with the exterior casing in cross-section. ig. 3 is an elevation of the bowl or bulb holder of the lamp removed from the body portion of the lamp.

Referring to the drawings, and more par# ticular'ly to Figs. 2 and 3, there is shown a lamp casing 1 which may be taken as indicative of a classification lamp provided with the usual bulls-eyes 2 and 3 arranged at right angles one tothe other. The lamp is provided with a bowl portion lsimilar to the ordinary font of railway lamps. This bowl portion has a body part designe-d to be slipped into the casing l at the bottom thereof and means of which the bowl 4- is held in place. This bowl or body portion 4. has a basic part G forming 'a closure for the bottom of the Carried by the basic @3, respeccasin'g l of the lamp. portion 6 are standard socli tively, there being two .i vided on opposite sides of the center of the body l and arranged in ,a diameter thereof. The body 4- carries an additoual spring designed to engage a notel. lll in that portion of the casing receptivo of the body 4.

The axes of the bul lsrves and 3 are so disposed that these axes meet at the longitudinal center line of the casing l in right-angular relation one to the other, so that if the' bulls-eye 2 points straight ahead of the locomotive, the bulls-eve is directed .sidewise thereof; The spring or catch 9 and the notch 1Q are so related that when the body 4 constituting the bulb carrier is inserted Patented Mar, 21, if,

carries spring cat-ches 5 by` condition carries an incandescent electric tively.'

bulb 11 and the socket 8 carries an incandescent electric bulb 12. The bulb 11 1s arranged to give a white light, while the bulb 12 may be leither made of green glass or stained green,

so as to give' a green light. The light given by the'two bulbs will, therefore, be referred to `as white light and green light respec- The locomotive is equipped with main line conductors 13, 14, respectively, fed from Arent, and in the event of an electrical locolnected to the sourcev of current.

motive the conductors 13 and 14 may be fed by the power circuit of the system. The main line conductor 13 leads to a switch 15 usually located in the cab within ready reach of the engineman, and from the switch there is carried a conductor 16 to an electric headlight 17, the other conductor 14 being also connected to the headlight so that the headlight may give light at the will of the engineman. Other conductors 18, 19 are con- Tlie conductor 18 is in the particularshowing of the drawings carried to one side of both .bulbs 11 `and 12 of both classification lamps,

conductor 18. The conductor 19 is connected to another conductor 25 in turn connect- -ed by a conductor 26 to a switch arm 22.

The conductor 25 is carried to one side'of lamps 27 which may be employed to illuminate the engine numbers or train indicators and the 'other side of these lamps 27 are connected by a conductor 28 to one side of a lamp 29 which may constitute the back light. The other side of the lamp 29 is connected .to the conductor 25. The conductor 28 also connects with the conductor 18 so that current from the conductor 18 flows by way of the conductor 28 to the lamps 27 and 29 and returns by way of the conductor 25 to the conductor 19. Branched across the conductors 25 and 28 are other lamps 30 and 31, one of which may constitute the cab light andthe other, the lamp 31, may illuminate the steam gage, while still anlupon locomotives, and hence needs no The other side other lamp 32 branched across these same conductors may serve to illuminate the water glass.

With the exception of the classification lamps and the conductors and switch controlling them, the electrical lighting installation may be that usually employed ticular description.

When the-switch arm 22 is lmoved on to ication lamps are energized, and hence each classification lamp emits white light clearly visible through both bullsfeyes without any intereference or reflection whatever from the other bulb in the classification lamp.' When it is desired to exhibit green light the switch arm 22 is moved on to the terminal 23, whereupon the green bulbs 'glow and green light is emitted 'from both bulls-eyes of each classification lamp -without any inter- `ference of any kind due to the presence of the other electric bulbs 11.

The employment of the two bulbs in each classification lamp set in line at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the axes of the two riglit-angularly arranged bulls-eyes provides for the clear exhibit of lights of different characteristics each through both bulls-eyes at one time without interference due to the presence of the other' bulb. The employment of the two bulbs and their arrangement as described eliminates the necessity of carrying green glass shades 'for changing the character of the light, which shades are liable to breakage or loss. The double-throw switch located in the'engine cab permits the changing of the character of the light emitted by the classication lamps at the will of the engineman.

What is claimed is 1. A classification lamp provided with a casing inclosing a chamber having lighttransmitting portions common thereto and in right-angular relation one to the other, and light-emitting elements of 4different the terminal 21, the bulbs 11 of the classi- A light-giving characteristics iixedly posi.

eyes common theretoand in right-angular' relation one to the other, and a pair of lightgiving elements in the chamber in fixed rela. tion to the bulls-eyes and to each other and spaced apart in a line substantially bisecting the angleformed by the intersection of the axes of the bulls-eyes.

3. A classification lamp provided with aI casingr inclosing a.` chamber having light transmitting portions at right angles one yt0 bulls-eye's opening into the same casing withv their axes intersecting at substantially right angles, and incandescent electric bulbs one arranged tofemit white light and the other to emit green light, one bulb being located Wholly inside of the point of intersection of the axes of the bulls-eyes and the other wholly outside of such point of intersection, said bulbs being arranged in a line in substantially forty-five degree relation to said v axes of the bulls-eyes.

` 5. A classification lamp provided with light-,transmitting -parts in substantially.

ninety degree relation, and a carrier adapted to be placed in and removed from the lamp, said carrier being provided with elec-l tric lamp sockets for electric bulbs on opposite sides of the center of the carrier, the said carrier and the body ofthe lamp being provided with co-acting means for locating the sockets in substantially forty-five degree relation to the angle of intersection of the axes of the light transmitting portions of the lamp.

6. A classification lamp provided with light transmitting portions in substantially ninety degree relation and a removable carrier adapted to the lamp and provided With latches for holding the carrier to the lamp, said carrier being also provided with `electric lamp sockets disposed on opposite sides of the center of the carrier and said carrier and the body of the lamp having coacting latch means for positioning the holder With the electric lamp sockets in substantially forty-five degree relation to the angle of intersection of lthe axis of the light transmitting portions ofthe lamp and on opposite sides of the point of intersection of said axes.

7. A classification lampsystem for locomotives comprising classification lamps eachhaving` bulls-eyes openinginto the same casingl with their axes intersecting at substantially rightangles yand each provided with incandescent bulbs capable ofv emitting White and green light, respectively, and both located Within the lamp to each direct light through both bulls-eyes simultaneously Without interference from the presence of the other bulb, and electric circuits including a double throw switch located in the cab of the locomotive for the energization of either the white light-giving bulbs or the green light-giving bulbs at will;

In testimony, that I claim the :foregoing .as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT GRAHAM FLINN.

Witnesses:

GEO. BABooCK, RALPH P. KINsMAN. 

